Music Studio Is Named Merton's Best Business For 2015

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Annual business awards staged at the All England Club

A boutique music studio complex in Morden has been crowned Merton Best Business.

Crown Lane Studios received the overall accolade at last night's (Thursday) Merton Best Business Awards, held at the All England Tennis Club, Wimbledon.

Crown Lane Studios, in Crown Lane, Morden, is trusted by high calibre artists and supports the local music community.

The successful business also scooped the Green Award on a night of glory at the annual awards, which are organised by Merton Chamber of Commerce.

Co-director John Merriman said: "As a small business, being finalists in three categories was huge for us. Recognition for what we do behind-the-scenes for our clients, our town and our environment is inspiring and motivating for everyone concerned.

"However, to be runner up for The Extra Mile, Winner of The Green Award and then receive the Overall Best Business Award was simply amazing. The atmosphere all night was of genuine celebration and to share the moment with so many friends and other worthy winners is something we won't forget in a hurry!"

Crown Lane Studios celebrate their win on the night

Other category winners were:

> Entrepreneur of the Year:
Winner: Sylvia Anderson, of Anderson Food Hygiene.
Anderson Food Hygiene describes itself as a “Multi- Award Winning Training and Consultancy Company dedicated to successfully educating our clients in the complicated and legislated area of Food Safety. We offer an integrated approach to safety providing up- to- date Accredited Training, Auditing and Consultancy Solutions that is extremely valuable to our high-profile Clients.”
Runner Up: Lisa Lamberti, The Pilates Clinic.

> Best Creative Award:
Winner: Sportlabs
Sportlabs describes itself as: Sportslabs works with national and international sport associations including the LTA, UEFA, Tennis Australia and the FEI (International Equestrian). We look after parts of the UEFA Champions league website and a number of other high traffic sites, UEFA Team of the Year is a website for users to vote for their top players each season.
Runner Up: New Wimbledon Theatre.

> Service Excellence:
Winner: GEM & Co Financial Services

GEM & Co partner Gareth Rees said: "This means the world to us as service excellence is our firm's raison d'etre so to be recognised in this way by our clients and the Merton Best Business Awards means we are getting it right!"

Runner Up: Park Vets.

> Team Development:
Winner: Lauristons.
Lauristons is an “innovative, progressive estate agency that offers services to meet the ever changing needs of any individual or organisation involved in any aspect of property market, whilst also ensuring that in meeting the needs of the business, we also add value to the communities we work with.”
Runner Up: Capital Training Group.

> Enterprising Business:
Winner: Eligo Recruitment
In the 14 years since it started, Eligo Recruitment has grown from two consultants to 25, from one sector to six, from helping 10 candidates to get jobs to helping 351. “Across each of our sectors we believe in doing recruitment differently, with innovation, with integrity, and with impact.”
Runner Up: Geeks.

> Best Business in Colliers Wood:
Winner: The Sound Lounge Studios
The Sound Lounge is a small arts organisations, which seeks to bring people together through art, music and community, Investing in a positive, sustainable future for the community and environment we are in, underpins all 3 of its revenue channels: 1) coffee bar 2) recording studio and 3) guitar project. The business works alongside other charities, music venues; working with NCS The Challenge, Regenerate UK, The London Probation Service, Wimbledon YMCA, among others.
Runner Up: Eddisonwhite.

> Apprentice of the Year:
Winner: Ryan Alexandrou, New Wimbledon Theatre
Runner Up: Terrone Francis, of Capital Training Group.

> Best New Business:
Winner: Little Forest Folk
Little Forest Folk is UK's first full - time outdoor nursery for children. It offers innovative childcare for 2-5 year old children in Merton, providing an unrivaled opportunity to enjoy unbounded and educational play in a natural forest setting, with all physical and mental benefits that the outdoors and fresh air provides.
Runner Up: Mini Engineers.

> The Green Award:
Winner: Crown Lane Studios
Runner Up: Bio Collectors.

> Best Business in Mitcham:
Winner: Carers Support Merton
Carers Support Merton put unpaid carers needs first, giving a personalised service to those who need help. Its aim is to improve the quality of life for carers and generate a wider and deeper understanding of carers issues in order that they receive the respect and recognition they deserve.
Runner Up: Rhodium Consulting.

> Best Business in Morden:
Winner: Aqua Physio
AquaPhysio improves the health and well-being of people in Merton no and into the future, through excellence aquatic physiotherapy and fitness, in a pool equipped with advanced technology, staffed by highly trained, expert physiotherapists. AquaPhysio changes people's lives for the better in a way that no other healthcare approach can.
Runner Up: Anderson Food Hygiene.

> Best Business in Raynes Park:
Winner: Tennison Property
Established in 2008, Tennison specialises in sales, lettings and property management. Everyone at Tennison is accessible and ready to offer simple and straightforward advice, and because it is an an independent agency, it provides a truly local focus combined with benefit of widespread connections.
Runner Up: Park Vets.

> Best Business in SW19:
Winner: Eligo Recruitment.
Also won the Enterprising Business award.
Runner Up: Paul Strank Roofing.

> Best Business in Wimbledon Town Centre:
Winner: The Justin James Hotel.
Runner Up: Sportlabs.

> The Extra Mile:
Winner: Paul Strank Roofing.
Paul Strank Roofing describes itself like this: “We are highly successful Roofing and Scaffolding company, with an excellent Merchants division. By focusing on customer care and working to the highest standards set by our accreditations we deliver a service that is second to none in our industry. We also fundraise like there's no tomorrow!”
Runner Up: Crown Lane Studios.

> Best Customer Service:
Winner: Bakou.
Runner up: Rhodium Consulting.

The Best Customer Service Award is the only award that is voted for by the public, and Alison Cohen, owner of the independent clothing retailer, said: "‘We are absolutely delighted to have won the Best Customer Service Award, especially as our business has been built on providing excellent customer service over the past 11 years. We were thrilled when we were told we had been nominated, but to actually receive more votes than any other business for excellent customer service is an honour. The win is still sinking in and we would like to thank all of our wonderful customers who voted for us as well as Centre Court Shopping who sponsored the award."

> Time & Leisure Magazine Editor’s Choice Award:
Winner: Aqua Physio
AquaPhysio improves the health and well-being of people in Merton now and into the future, through excellence aquatic physiotherapy and fitness, in a pool equipped with advanced technology, staffed by highly trained, expert physiotherapists. AquaPhysio changes people's lives for the better in a way that no other healthcare approach can.

September 25, 2015